Last night I had so much fun at another summer outdoor performance. This time I saw a production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at Murray Amphitheater and it is enchanting! In this more contemporary version of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella (Kennady Call) is a social reformer who must rescue Prince Topher (Mark Carter Williams) from the evil Lord Protector Sebastian (Alan Lafleur) who is deceiving him about the conditions in his kingdom. Her stepmother Madame (Wendy Richhart) and stepsister Charlotte (Emma Thomas) treat her badly but her other stepsister Gabrielle (Katie Revels) becomes a sympathetic co-conspirator in pursuit of her own romance with a revolutionary named Jean-Michel (Remick F. Lafleur). An old beggar woman named Marie (Katie Hill) becomes her Fairy Godmother after Cinderella shows her some kindness and, while she does help her get to the ball, she tells her that she herself has the power to make her dreams come true. After falling in love with Cinderella at the ball, Topher takes her advice and turns his kingdom into a constitutional monarchy where everyone can live happily ever after. I really liked the entire cast but Call and Hill are standouts for me because their roles require an impressive vocal range and they definitely deliver in the songs "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," "Glass Slipper/ It's Possible," and "There Is Music In You." Williams also has a lovely voice and he has great chemistry with Call in the songs "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful." Richhart and Thomas steal the show with all of their antics and I especially loved Richhart's evil laugh and Thomas' hilariously awkward rendition of "Stepsister's Lament." The choreography is really clever, especially when the dancers mimic the hands of a clock in "Ten Minutes Ago." I also enjoyed the staging of "Me, Who Am I" because Prince Topher rides his horse out into the audience and "The Pursuit" because members of the ensemble look for Cinderella in the audience with lanterns (the children were giving them lots of directions) and the transformation of the Fox, the Raccoon, and the Owl is ingenious (be sure to watch these puppets during the whole show). Speaking of transformations, Marie's Fairy Godmother dress and Cinderella's sparkling ball gown are beautiful and the rest of the ball gowns are a lot of fun. Finally, the set is one of the best I've seen at the Murray Park Amphitheater! There is an elaborate palace with marble columns and a grand staircase leading to a balcony, a forest area, and the exterior of Cinderella's stone cottage. Various set pieces are also brought in and my favorites were a water fountain used in "The Prince Is Giving a Ball" and Cinderella's golden carriage. This is a wonderful show for families to enjoy in an outdoor setting and I highly recommend it! There are performances on July 10, 13, 14, and 15 (go here for tickets).
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